Construction & Design Trends for Healthcare Facilities

From wellness clinics to outpatient treatment centers to hospitals – today’s healthcare facilities need to be as flexible as they are functional. While medical providers are the heart of these spaces, the buildings themselves can be designed to optimize care and minimize long-term maintenance costs.

The design-build approach to construction can help healthcare management teams get the most out of a new build. The approach provides critical pre-planning and collaboration between architects, project managers, contractors and building owners. This helps keep the project’s goals, growth plan and compliance for regulatory parameters top-of-mind so costly changes and time extensions can be avoided.

With decades of experience serving the construction needs of hospital systems, nursing care, and independent medical providers, STAR Inc. has experienced first-hand the changing demands these facilities face. Here is how we help our clients overcome today’s challenges while building for the future:

Maximize Design & Materials for Air Quality

Care facilities need HVAC systems that deliver a higher level of air flow and circulation. Spaces need to be well-ventilated and HEPA filters should be planned for at key points. By bringing together the design and construction teams upfront, the design-build approach assures the right materials are selected for both function and health.

Plan for Wellness-Forward Spaces

From an architectural standpoint, healthcare facilities need to be designed for comfort, healing, private treatment and ongoing infection control. Building placement can maximize natural light in common areas and entryways. Building placement can also mitigate the risk of floods and reduce environmental impact. The use of natural materials can welcome patients and visitors into a facility in ways that reduce anxiety and stress.

Staff wellness is part of this equation. Where should break areas be located? Is access to green space important to your team? Are there building design features that can minimize staff fatigue or maximize workflow efficiency? These are the types of questions we will consider when designing a space.

Plan Around Long-Term Infection Control

Healthcare facilities must be constantly cleaned and disinfected – and not all materials are up to the challenge. Material science is continually developing cutting-edge technologies that create naturally antimicrobial solutions. Easy-to-clean materials, like stainless steel, are still important to consider. Hands-free fixtures can go beyond faucets with motion-activated doors and touchless elevator systems.

Build a Technology-Ready Infrastructure

Patient care is advancing more every day. Buildings must be designed to accommodate “what’s next” even before it’s been created. That means planning a building’s electrical and communications infrastructure in ways that support heavy usage and technology growth. Emergency power and supply systems must include robust backup generators and redundancies for continuous care. Security and staff safety should also be considered during the building planning phase. These systems have become more advanced to assure patient and staff privacy while still protecting buildings and equipment.